Improvement in fifth-wheels for carriages



W. W. GRIER. Fifth-Wheel for Garriages.

No. 200,712. Patented Feb. 26,1878.

N.PETERS. PHOTO LITHOGRAFHF.R. WASHINGTON, D C.

ated'.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

WILLIAM W. GRIER, OF HULTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIFTH-WHEELS FOR CARRIAGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 200,712, dated February 26, 1878; application filed January 12, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. GRIER, of Hulton, in the countyofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Fifth-Wheels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference beinghadto the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a rear elevation of devices embodying my invention, together with so much of an axle, head-block, and spring-bar as is necessary to show their use. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the devices, and an axle, headblock, te.; and Fig. 3 is a detached view of the fifth-wheel plates.

Like letters refer to like parts wherever they occur.

My invention relates to the construction of fth-wheels for vehicles, and to the connections therefor; and consists, first, in combining a saddle-clip and extended yoke with the king-bolt clip, the saddle-clip embracing the head-block in such manner that any lost motion due to the wear of the fifth-wheel plates may be taken up by adjustment of the saddleclip; and, second, in combining, with the saddle-clip, Aking bolt clip, and its adjuncts, a brace-arm extending to the spring-bar, to counteract the surge of the body when the motion of the vehicle is suddenly arrested or acceler- The subject-matter of the first nature of invention is applicable to various classes of vehicles, while the subject-matter of the second is especially applicable to that class of vehicles wherein the springs are attached above and to the head-block, as in the Dexter and others well known to the trade.

I will now proceed to describe my invention, so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

In the drawings,A represents the front axle; B, the head-block, and C C the fth-wheel plates, connected, respectively, to the headblock and axle. The plates C C have a central opening for the passage of -the king-bolt, and are expanded centrally and at the extremities to form increased bearing-surfaces c c'. These enlarged ends, as well as the enlarged center, materially increase the distance through which the two plates can move or rotate upon each other without permitting the head-block to rock on the axle, and thus prevent the ridging and rapid destruction of the fifth-wheel plates. D represents the kin g-bol t, provided with a clip, D', by means of which and yoke E it is secured to the axle.

F represents a bolster-clip or saddle-clip, which rests above and on the head-block B, inclosing both it and the axle. It is sufficiently wide to allow free play of the axle with which it moves without the clip binding on the headblock. Saddle-clip F has a central opening or eye, f, through which the upper end of the king-bolt D passes, and is held by a nut, d, the lower or free ends of saddle-clip F being passed through eyes in the extended ends of yoke E, and the whole secured by nuts f'. If desired, a second set of nuts or jam-nuts shown in dotted line, Fig. 2) may be employed to prevent the forcing of the fifth-wheel plates too closely together.

In some styles of vehicle the springs are supported upon the head-block, being connected by links G, said links clipped below to the head-block, as at g, or in other suitable manner, and strengthened and stayed by what is termed a spring-bar, as shown at H. In such a construction there is a tendency of the body and springs to surge when the vehicle is suddenly stopped, or the wheels strike an impediment. For this class of vehicles I extend the saddle-clip F to form one or more bracearms, I, with an eye, t', through which a bolt is passed to connect the brace-arm to the springbar.

In putting the parts together the king-bolt is first clipped to the axle by the extended yoke. The saddle-clip is then slipped upon the bolster or head-block, the upper end of the king-bolt passing through the eye or slot in the center ci' the saddle-clip, and the free ends ot' the saddle-clip passing through the holes in the extended yoke of the king-bolt clip. Three nuts are then appliedone to the free end of the king-bolt, and two to the free ends of the saddle-clip-and the nuts tightened to bring the fifth-wheel plates as close together as is required.

It will be noticed that the saddle-clip, which is thus rigidly connected to the axle, moves with the axle and king-bolt, so that the nut oi the king-bolt moves with the parts, and not over a ixed surface, as heretofore. This prevents the loosening or displacement of the king-bolt nut, and as there is no motion in the nuts of the saddleclip except with the parts, there is no liability of their becoming loosened. If from Wear of the fifth-Wheel plates lost 1notion should occur, it can be taken up readily by tightening the three nuts before mentioned. The eye of the brace-arm I is sufficiently large to permit the arm to swivel on the bolt passing through the spring-bar, and the brace-arm I, being rigid, will prevent the swaying or surging of the springs and vehicle-bed.

In some cases-as, for instance, on heayy vehicles, or those used on rough roads-it may be found desirable to duplicate brace-arm I, or make it a continuous arch, as indicated in dotted line, Fig. 2, and also to brace the saddle-clip F by extending the center circle of the lower fifth-Wheel plate or friction-plate, as is also indicated in dotted line, Fig. :2. When this fth-Wheel is used with a perch vehicle the spring may be secured to the head-block under and by the saddle-clip, and the perch secured by braces extending to bolts r r.

The advantages of my devices, in addition to those before recited, arc simplicity, symA metry, and durability.

bolt and head-block or saddle-clip, both rigidly secured to and moving with the axle, substan tially as and for the purpose specied.

2. In aifth-wheel for Vehicles, the combina tion,witl1 the axle and head-block and springbar, of the king-bolt clip and saddle-clip provided with a brace-arm, the saddle-clip rigidly secured to the axle and the brace-arm connected to the spring-bar, so as to swivel on the spring-bar, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a ifth-wl1ee1,the combination of the saddleclip, the clip king-bolt, and the extended yoke common to both saddle-clip and king-bolt clip, substantially as specified.

4. In a fifth-Wheel, the saddle-clip provided with the springbar brace-arm, substantially as and for the purpose specified,

In testimony whereof I, the said WILLIAM XV. GRIER, have hereunto set my hand.

VILLIAM W. GRI ER.

Witnesses l. W. RITTER7 Jr., JonN K. SMITH. 

